'Walking the talk’: Paul’s authority in motion in 2 Corinthians 10–13

Abstract

One’s gait or incessus served as a prominent visual indicator of moral character and status in ancient Graeco-Roman societies. Nobles, aristocrats and slaves walked differently. Linking on to this ‘common-sense knowledge’, Paul’s opponents in 2 Corinthians 10–13 shamed him publicly due to his inability to do the ‘leadership walk’ amongst the Corinthians. Whilst rhetorically engaging with these stereotypes, the apostle simultaneously deconstructs them with regard to the deep structure of the text. A new form of spiritual authority, which is also embodied in the weakness of Christ on the cross, surfaces in Paul’s own bodily humiliations and apparent powerlessness.

’Om jou praat te loop’: Paulus se outoriteit aan die beweeg in 2 Korintiërs 10–13. Individue se liggaamstaal of incessus was ‘n prominente visuele aanduiding van morele karakter en status binne antieke Grieks-Romeinse gemeenskappe. Adelikes, aristokrate en slawe het almal op verskillende maniere geloop. In die lig van hierdie algemene kennis het Paulus se opponente in 2 Korintiërs 10–13 hom in die publiek verneder vanweë sy onvermoë om die ‘leierskaploop’ te doen tussen die Korintiërs. Terwyl Paulus enersyds in gesprek tree met hierdie stereotipe idees, dekonstrueer hy dit in dieselfde asem ten opsigte van die dieptestruktuur van die teks. ‘n Nuwe vorm van geestelike outoriteit, wat ook in die swakheid van Christus aan die kruis geleë is, kom na vore in Paulus se eie liggaamlike vernederings en oënskynlike kragteloosheid.